Call for Projects: Mental Wellbeing at Work
Work shapes how people feel, and how people feel shapes their work. Helios Foundation funds projects that act on that link before people fall ill: through how work is designed, how it is led and how people behave within it. Any organisation that can drive real impact can apply, alone or in a consortium. Funding starts at 50.000 euros per project per year, for 18 to 24 months.
This is the first step, and it is light. Before you start, have ready:
- your letter of intent: up to three pages and 2.000 words, in Dutch, French or English, with an English summary if you don’t write in English
- a video of up to three minutes, recorded on a smartphone
- ideally, a signed endorsement from a sponsor
Shortlisted teams will be invited on 1 February 2027 to submit a detailed proposal.
Deadline: Monday 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET.
Read the announcement here · Download the full Project Call Description here · Questions about the call? See the FAQ below.
FAQ Call for projects
1. What is this call for projects about?
Helios Foundation supports projects that strengthen mental wellbeing at work in Belgium through prevention. The focus is on how work is designed, how it is led, and how people behave within it, rather than on care once someone has already fallen ill.
2. What are the three pillars, and why do we need to connect two of them?
The call is built on three pillars:
- Pillar 1: Healthy Work Design & Organisational Prevention
- Pillar 2: Leadership Development & Relations at Work
- Pillar 3: Workforce Wellbeing Literacy
Every proposal connects at least two of them. Wellbeing at work rarely depends on a single lever, so Helios looks for projects that work on several at once.
3. What falls outside the scope of the call?
Curative approaches, projects that are primarily therapeutic or advocacy-driven, and interventions aimed at individuals apart from their work context. Purely academic projects without a plausible pathway to impact are less competitive.
4. Is a project aimed at individual employees eligible, for example a resilience programme?
It can be, as long as it is embedded in the work context and connected to at least one other pillar, such as work design or leadership. A standalone programme that addresses individuals apart from how their work is organised falls outside the call.
5. Which sectors and target groups does the call cover?
All sectors are welcome. Helios gives priority to the moments when working lives are most exposed: early careers, young parenthood and the 20 to 40 age group, and organisations going through rapid growth, restructuring, high pressure, understaffing, downsizing or a merger.
6. Does the project have to take place in Belgium?
Every project needs to show a clear impact in Belgium. International collaborations are encouraged where relevant.
7. Who can submit a proposal?
Any organisation that can drive real impact, including companies, academic and research institutions, non-profit organisations and foundations, sectoral organisations and social partners, and consortia that bring several of these together.
8. Can a company apply?
Yes. As with every applicant, the proposal needs to show a clear funding gap and independence from routine public or market funding.
9. Do we need to form a consortium?
No. Consortia are strongly encouraged, though, when they strengthen relevance, co-creation and implementation, for example by bringing research, practice and the target group together.
10. Can one organisation submit more than one proposal, or take part in several consortia?
Yes.
11. Can an organisation based outside Belgium lead a proposal?
No. The lead applicant needs to be based in Belgium and the project should have a clear link with Belgium.
12. How much funding can a project receive?
At least 50.000 euro per project per year. There is no maximum amount. What matters is the quality of the proposal and a budget that is proportionate and justified.
13. How long can a project run?
Between 18 and 24 months, with a possible extension depending on results. Proposals that can be implemented quickly are encouraged.
14. Is co-funding required?
No. Co-funding is allowed but not required. Every proposal does need to show why the project cannot be sufficiently funded through regular public or market channels.
15. What do we need to submit in the first phase?
- A letter of intent of up to three pages and 2.000 words, following the outline in the call document.
- A video of up to three minutes, simply recorded on a smartphone.
- Ideally, a signed endorsement from a sponsor who can confirm your team’s capacity to deliver.
16. In which language can we apply?
In Dutch, French or English, in both phases. If your proposal is not in English, please add an English summary. The video can also be recorded in Dutch, French or English.
17. What should the video cover?
Three questions: why this approach and how it connects to the Helios pillars, what impact you expect to deliver within two years, and why your team can carry out the plan. No professional production is needed. The video is a way for us to meet your team.
18. What is a sponsor endorsement, and is it required?
A short signed letter from someone who knows your team and can vouch that you can deliver the project you propose, for example a senior manager in your organisation or a partner you have worked with. It is strongly encouraged, not required.
19. Can we use AI tools to prepare our written proposal?
Yes. Please state briefly which tools you used and for which tasks, in a maximum of 100 words. This statement does not count towards the word or page limit and does not in itself affect the assessment. For the video, see the next question.
20. Can we use AI to make the video?
The video is how we get to know your team, so we’d like to see and hear the people who will carry the project, in their own voice. AI-generated presenters, avatars or synthetic voices don’t fit that purpose. Using AI for practical help, such as subtitles or basic editing, is fine. Please mention it in your AI statement.
21. How do we submit our proposal?
Through the application form on this page.
22. What is the deadline?
Monday 30 November 2026 (23:59 CET).
23. How are proposals selected?
In two phases. The Advisory Board reviews the letters of intent and draws up a shortlist. Shortlisted teams are invited to submit a detailed proposal. The Advisory Board reviews these, and the Helios Foundation Board of Directors makes the final selection.
24. What are the selection criteria?
Nine criteria, each scored from 1 to 10:
- Consortium team quality, collaboration and track record in driving change and impact
- Target group definition and diversity strategy
- Relevance and demonstrated need among the target groups
- Financial need and justification for Helios funding
- Project positioning and phase appropriateness
- Scientific quality and innovation
- Feasibility and responsible research practices
- Implementation capacity and collaboration
- Impact and scaling potential
25. What does the detailed proposal in phase 2 involve?
A proposal of up to 15 pages covering methodology, work plan, timeline with milestones, risk analysis, budget, team and impact strategy. It can be written in Dutch, French or English, with an English summary.
26. How confidentially are proposals handled?
Proposals are shared only with the members of the Advisory Board, the Board of Directors and the Helios Foundation team involved in the selection, and are used solely for the assessment.
In the second phase, detailed proposals are also reviewed by external wellbeing-at-work experts, who are asked to treat every proposal confidentially as well.
27. What is the timeline?
- Thursday 1 October 2026: call opens
- Monday 26 October 2026, 15:00 (Brussels time): online briefing session in English
- Monday 30 November 2026: deadline for letters of intent (23:59 CET)
- Monday 1 February 2027: shortlist announced, phase 2 opens
- Monday 8 March 2027: deadline for detailed proposals (23:59 CET)
- Monday 5 July 2027: selected projects announced
Didn't find the answer to your question here?
If you have a question about the call that isn’t answered in this FAQ, or you have a technical question with regards to the submission of your project, please send an email to questions@heliosfoundation.be.